Embroidery and the Enabler

So here's the thing about Gertrude... she is an enabler.

She makes so many things easier and therefore so much more fun! She calls to me while I am cleaning or doing laundry. She says, "Forget those ridiculous household trivialties and come have some fun with me!".

And let me tell you, she is quite convincing. So, I put down the sponge and push the laundry pile further into the corner and run away to hide in Gertrude's company.

Right now we are in an Embroidery phase. There are just so many things you can do with Machine Embroidery. And of course with sites out there like Urban Threads (www.urbanthreads.com), I cannot stay away.

Gertrude and I have decided that this month we will play with some new embroidery projects. There are so many things I've not done yet with embroidery. So of course I headed over to Urban Threads and found a few things that looked like fun!

Today, I'll show you some fun Embroidered Tags, because who doesn't love putting a sweet little label onto a quilted gift. With the design pack chosen, you can also create a gift tag or ribbon tag! So much fun!

Then, we'll try an In-the-Hoop project. If you've never done one of these, OH MY OH MY, you must give it a try. So easy and so fast! This awesome project is called the Giving Bunny Project, and is such a cool idea! You'll want to make hundreds of these little guys!

And last, in celebration of St. Patricks day, we will play with turning any lighlyt stitched design into an appliqué design! A great excuse for me to use LOTS of green!

Fun with Embroidered Tags

One of my all time favorite embroidery websites is Urban Threads. They have machine embroidery and hand embroidery and LOTS of them! So, conveniently they have a "tutorial" on different tags you can make with the design pack, "Made with Love". This really is such a cute design pack, you'll want to start putting labels on everything!

The first tag I made was a stand alone tag. I decided to finish mine off by sewing a back on it so that you cannot see the stitching on the back of the tag. This one is great for putting on a package when giving a hand made gift! 

This one is perfect for sewing onto the back of a gift quilt.

Here is another label that I made, stitched onto a baby quilt for a friends little girl!

There is a third type of label you can make with the designs from this pack, but I never did get a chance to pick up some ribbon to give it a try. Maybe this weekend some time will magically appear! 

If you love these labels and want them for yourself, head over to Urban Threads and check them out. The pack is called, "Made with Love".  Oh and you can find the tutorial for all the tags HERE. They also come in hand embroidery format for those of you who prefer that embroidery method! 

Hope you get a chance to play with some machine embroidery this weekend!

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli & Gertrude

Babies, babies everywhere!

Hey All,

So it seems that everywhere I look people are having babies.. not literally of course, cuz well that would be weird!

In my excitement for all of these new kiddos, I have been making Baby quilts & burp clothes. Last time I posted I was working on the "Eat. Play. Sleep. Repeat." Quilt. I finished it, and need to deliver it to its new owner, just as soon as I get over this cold that I have. Don't want to expose any sweet little babies to my cold.

Our lazy pup was modeling how to snuggle under the quilt! 

The next set of items is for a friend who has been part of my life for a long time. I am claiming her as my little sister (well one of them!) and so her new little baby will be my niece! YAY! :P She is due any day and lives in Texas so I better get a move on.. but here's a preview!

Fun bow tie pattern, made from the book "Quilting Happiness".

Burp Clothes & Swaddlers! 

Yes I made the quilt teal and brown and green. Yes she is having a girl. And Yes I think little girls can like teal and brown too! I made up for it by making the burp clothes and swaddlers in pink!

It has been a blast making baby things for these new & on the way babies! Despite having all of my babies home for the last few weeks (almost every day) I managed to squeeze in some sewing time to get these things done. 

I feel like I've been cranking things out but when I try to recall what I've been working on... well, Mommy Brain strikes again! When I remember I'll fill you all in on them! I know I've been doing something...

I haven't made it back to my "Aeroplane Bag" yet, but hopefully in the next week I'll be able to show you all a finished product. And just as soon as that is done I have BIG plans to make something for Gertrude. She has been such a trooper through all of these projects and I owe her! 

Sew until next time,

Happy Sewing!

Enjoli & (a very tired) Gertrude

P.S:

Just thought I'd share a bit of cuteness from my last trip to the store:

Apparently Avalyn really likes the Minkee because she was snuggling up to it! 

Baby Quilts & Bags

Hey All,

Whew, it seems that it has been awhile. I had a post all prepped and ready for you for Super Bowl sunday, and well in all the excitement, I forgot to post it! 

 (I backdated the post for Super Bowl Sunday, so you can find it by the date!) 

Since then, I've been mostly busy with Mom stuff. My oldest just started preschool which keeps us busy Tuesday/Thursday, not to mention all the planning that I didn't know was involved with school! The Twins and I play and keep busy while big sis is at preschool. And man do they keep me busy; they are climbing on everything now and going a mile a minute! 

Anywhoo.. So, in the rare few minutes I've had, this is what I've been up to..

"Eat.Sleep.Play. Repeat." Quilt

This adorable quilt was from V&Co. and was absolutely perfect for my friend's new baby boy. The rainbow chevron was a recent discovery and since those are two of her favorite things..I couldn't pass it up! 

Check out this post & instructions by V&Co. to make your own! 

This is a preview of the bag I'm working on. It is a pattern called "the Aeroplane bag" from SewSweetness; she is the same gal who created the pattern I used for the "foxy wallet" a few weeks ago! 

Here is the first one I made, now I have to make another to figure out how to "teach" it next class session at my Mom's shop! 

I used some Echino fabric that I've been saving for the perfect project and a small print from Tula Pink's Acacia line! This is such a fun bag, I can't wait to teach it next session! 

Hope you all are getting some sewing done! I don't know about you all, but I've already broken my new years resolution to not "start new projects"! 

:) Sew until next time,

Enjoli 

Super Bowl Sunday - GO BRONCOS!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday Everyone!

Here at my house we are BRONCOS FANS!! 

This is a pattern of my own design, created a few years ago for my hubby! Mind you the season I created it was not one of the best for our Broncos. This year was different and we are pumped about being in the Super Bowl! I digress though.. back to sewing! 

Due to copyright laws, I cannot sell this pattern with any NFL logos, etc. on the cover or anywhere in the pattern itself. That is Ok with me though.. gotta support our teams the right way! 

So, I created a generic version of the quilt and turned it into a free pattern for you all to enjoy and customize anyway you'd like!! 

Check out my Tutorials Page for the Pattern! 

 Enjoy creating your very own football field, complete with your NFL team spirit, kids little league or your alma mater! 

Happy Super Bowl and GO BRONCOS! 

Enjoli

my Sweat Shop..

So, Gertrude and I have been together for almost a month now!

I have FINALLY rearranged my "sewing room" into a usable space for Gertie! My hubby bought me an awesome sewing table (Joann's had them 50% off for awhile!) which will support her weight!

Check it out!! With her embroidery module attached, she takes up the whole width of the table! What is even more amazing is that I can now embroider at FULL SPEED! Whaa hooo!

Needless to say, I have been spending all my free moments in this room working away. It's my own little sweat shop. (Sometimes literally since there is a heating vent in this room.. I've had to close it so I don't die up there!)

So, here is what we've been working on...

Bumpers for a friends baby Girl! 

Awesome Foxy Wallet

Inside said Foxy Wallet

Foxy Zipper Pouch

Are you sensing the theme here with this adorable Fox fabric?! If you must have it, it is Acacia by Tula Pink!

Made myself a cute ironing board cover! P.S: That is my awesome new Green Iron! 

Free Motion Quilting a lap top sleeve

And of course embroidering one of above said Foxes!

As you can see I have been having a Grand 'Ol time in my sewing room with Ms. Gertrude! I'm trying to cram in a bunch of sewing time now because all of my babysitters (aka Grandparents) are going on vacations and I will have significantly less free time to sew during February!

Hopefully I'll get a chance to chat with you all some more before February blurs by!

Happy Sewing,
Enjoli (and Gertrude)

A Few of My Favorite Things.. about Gertrude

Oh my! Oh my! Gertrude and I have really hit it off.

I find myself wishing for more time in the day, and sneak up to my sewing room (aka: my converted walk-in closet) to scheme and just stare at her! Sometimes I manage to get something done.

Right now I am waiting for hubby to either build or buy me a table..I think the later is more likely since we both have severely limited free time with three little munchkins running around!

So, whilst I wait (not so patiently) for my table, so that Gert can have a place to be set up all the time, I figured I'd share a few of my favorite things about my newest, most wonderful machine!

Number 1: The sheer size of her is AMAZING! 

The fact that I have so much space to the right of the needle is the biggest difference from my previous machine (not that I didn't love her..but..) and one of the biggest reasons for adopting Gertrude!

Number 2: Hover Function

No, she does not magically hover downstairs to my dining room table so I can sew, but she does have a setting programmed into her that allows the presser foot to hover when I stop sewing. So, when I am chain piecing or pivoting during quilting, she will stop needle down and raise the presser foot so that I can either go straight into sewing my next piece or turn directions while quilting.
It. Is. Awesome!

Number 3: Automatic Cutting

I knew this function would be nice to have, but I didn't know it would be LIFE CHANGING! I Freaking Love this function! It has cut (ha ha get it!) my piecing time a lot and made me really appreciate having thread cutting done for me!

She will cut automatically when I sew decorative stitches and use my pattern end button. She will cut embroidery jump stitches automatically. And boy does this function save time and energy when you are quilting and want to jump from one spot to another.

Whew! I am still so excited about the addition of Gertrude to my machine line up that I've thought of like 6 more things typing this. I'll save them for another day, I've got to head back up and keep on sewing!

One of these days when I remember to take some photos, I'll give you all a glimpse of where the magic that Gert and I make happens! (Gotta have that table set up first!)

Happy Sewing,
Enjoli & Gertrude!

P.S:
Apparently others are not so thrilled with my attempt to spend more time with Gertrude!

Avalyn does not seem thrilled with her sister's form of entertainment while Mommy sews! 

Welcome Home Gertrude!

The anticipation is FINALLY over.. Gertrude has ARRIVED!

It has taken every ounce of self control that I have to not forget that I have children (human ones that is) and just play with Gertrude!

Though I do have to say..My oldest told me, "I love my new sister!", last night when we took Gertie out of her box!

Gotta give her a Kiss!

Ascher couldn't miss out on the fun either!

I told myself that I'd wait until the kids were all in bed to get Gert out, but hubby could tell the suspense was killing me, so he cooked dinner while Alia and I unpacked her! She is currently living on our dining room table since I don't have a big enough table for her yet! (Not to worry, its on the to-buy list for this weekend!)

Once the last kiddo was FINALLY in bed, I spent some quality time with Gertrude.

We bonded over a late night hot cocoa and of course, took our first "selfie"! 

I'm so excited that she is finally home, I've already put her to work on some new curtains for my oldest daughters room! She has decided that anything Mickey Mouse is the best thing ever now, so we're transitioning her room from Cat In the Hat to Mickey Mouse! New curtains are the first step, then a coordinating bed quilt. I'll be sure to share once they're done and up! 

I am off for more Adventures with Gertrude! I can tell already that we're going to have a great time together! 

See you later,

Enjoli & Gertrude!!